Having the Grace for It

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." -1 Corinthians 15:10

Have you ever noticed that some things are far easier when God is with us? "God is always with us," you may say, which is true, but have you ever noticed God's favor on some activities and not all activities? Have you ever done something you knew God wanted you to do? Likewise, have you ever done anything you knew God didn't want you to do?

Sometimes what God wants us to do is confirmed by several things in our lives: God's word, the agreement of other trusted people in our lives, God's peace, and, most noticeably, God's active grace accompanying us. We understand the "noun" of God's grace to be His undeserved gift of salvation. But, the Bible also talks about His grace being actively with us to help us accomplish His work on the earth (a verb).

We may be gifted or feel called to do something. But it may not be the season for it. This is discerning God's timing. We may want to step out into something, but notice that we don't feel a peace about it. Other times, we may feel at peace about something we are doing that leads to a godly goal, seems easy, and moves forward in spite of obstacles. In these situations, we work hard, do our best and also experience God's supernatural grace to accomplish the task at hand. It may seem silly, but this grace happens to me in the buying and selling of cars I've owned.

When it relates to God's active grace, we need to be careful we don't step out into something that God has not called us to, or given us the grace for. If we misinterpret our direction, desire to do our "own thing", or stay in something for too long (the grace has lifted) we could experience consequences. We need to be sensitive to God's Holy Spirit in the timing of all of these things.

Do you feel God's grace in what you are doing? Pray that God would show you and give you the grace to accomplish all you are called to. He says, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." -Matthew 11:30